Mary, Queen of Scots, lived a rather tumultuous life. After the death of her father, King James V, which occurred less than a week after her birth, in December 1542, the infant heir to Scotland’s throne was promptly sent to France.

By the time she was 25, Mary had married three times. England’s Queen Elizabeth, determined that her crown not be threatened by her troublesome cousin, had Mary imprisoned for about 18 years before allowing her execution.

The last three days of Mary’s life are vividly dramatized in a play titled “Mary Stuart,” written in 1800 by Friedrich Schiller. The play features a variety of royal subjects siding with one queen or the other. As Mary tries to win her freedom, audiences witness political corruption, religious conflict, attempted assassinations and an intense love triangle.

As Shakespeare in the Vines gears up for its eighth summer season of plays, the company will perform the revised version of “Mary Stuart,” beginning Friday and continuing through Feb. 24, at Europa Village Winery in Temecula.

“The most intriguing aspect of this production is the work,” said veteran SITV director John Leon. “It is the process which gives me the most wonderment and curiosity.”

Rob Crissell (as Leicester, Elizabeth’s close friend) spoke highly of the writing in Oswald’s adaptation. “The fascinating thing about this play is its powerful presentation of these historical figures,” Crissell said. “The writing is brilliant in the way it unveils how they schemed to try to achieve their goals.”

Then Crissell referred to an interesting choice regarding costuming, which also supports the characters’ common desire to control.

“In an effort to convey a timeless universality of the intrigue and manipulation by the men of Elizabeth and Mary,” he said, “the two queens are clothed in period attire while all the men are dressed in contemporary clothing.”

The fact that the story is about people who actually lived is exciting, said Rosalyn Leon, who plays Mary. “Stories based on truth, regardless of how much fiction is added for dramatic effect, are compelling.”

Portraying the title character was challenging, she said.

“This show contains scenes of various intense emotional levels. Mary is always fighting. This role requires a lot of energy and is both mentally and physically demanding.”

Usually, the director has a clear vision, a specific focus as a storyteller, and perhaps, a message for the audience.

“Absolute power is in a sense what we all struggle with, isn’t it?” Leon asked. “Climbing the ladder of corporate status, fame and notoriety, or simply having it our way. Is there an alternative to our most deep-seated ambitions — or is it all or nothing?”